Fluid transmission system



May 13, 1941- c. R. REUTER FLUID TRANSMISSION SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1938 @EQE Carl E. Renter INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

May 13, 1941- c. R. REUTER FLUID TRANSMISSION SYSTEM Filed Sept. 12, 1938 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Raf/4 g Carl R.Re uter INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY.

Patented May 13, 194! 2.242.184 FLUID TRANSMISSION SYSTEM Carl R. Renter, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to The Fall: Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 12, 1938, Serial No. 229,436

6 Claims.

source of serious wear rendering such systems and such devices impracticable for many uses to which they might otherwise be advantageously applied.

An object of the present invention is to avoid the above objections in a fluid transmission system for the purpose mentioned.

A more specific object is to provide an improved system forthe purpose in which the joint may be relieved of wear producing pressures during operation of the controlled device. Another object is to provide an improved selfsealing joint for fluid pressure systems of the character mentioned.

Other more specific objects and advantages will appear, expressed or implied, from the following description of illustrative embodiments of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a sectional view of a fluid clutch equipped with a fluid control system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of fluid clutch equipped with a different form of fluid control system embodying the invention.

The clutch shown in Fig. l comprises an outer drum ||l fixed for rotation with an engine fly wheel H, and a concentric inner drum I2 having a supporting hub 3 fixed to the end of a shaft l4. The inner drum I2 is radially spaced from the outer drum l and.- carries an annular fluid container l5 adapted to be expanded by the admission of fluid pressure into gripping contact with the inner face of the drum H).

The fluid container I5 is preferably of rubber and fabric or cord construction similar to that used in modern automobile or truck tires, and is preferably of somewhat flattened form to reduce the depth of the annular space between the two drums and to provide, when expanded, a relatively wide area of gripping contact between it and the outer drum.

The container I5 is shown vulcanized or otherwise surface bonded to a carrier ring I5 removably fixed to the inner drum I2, and is provided with an appropriate hollow fitting separably connected through appropriate piping IS with a channel I 9 in the shaft |4 through which fluid pressure may be admitted to expand the container and thereby close the clutch or released from the container to contract the same andthereby open the clutch.

Application and release of fluid pressure to and from the channel IS in the shaft is placed under the control of a'novel system which will now be described. It includes an appropriate pressure inlet valve 20 rotatable with the shaft l4 and operable to admit and normally retain fluid pressure in the channel I9, and an appropriate exhaust valve 2| also rotatable with the shaft and operable to release the fluid pressure in the channel iii.

In the system shown in Fig. 1, the valve 20 is in the form of an inwardly opening ball check valve normally retained against its ported seat 22 by a spring 23 interposed between it and an appropriate valve cage 24, the ball and cage being arranged within a chamber formed in a collar 25 fixed to the shaft l4 and communieating through a channel 26 with the channel l9. The collar 25 is confined between two end rings 21 and 28 which also rotate with the shaft and which cooperate with an encircling nonrotating structure 29 to form an annular pressure transmitting space 30 to which the ported valve seat 22 is exposed. Fluid pressure may be' admitted to the space 30 through a pipe 3|.

The exhaust valve shown at 2| is in the form of an inwardly opening pop t valve mounted in a suitable cage 32 in a chamber 33 formed in a collar 34 fixed to the shaft M. The chamber 33 has an exhaust port 35. This valve is normally retained in closed position by a flexible diaphragm 36 mounted to span and close the chamber 33, the valve having a supporting stem 31 attached to the diaphragm.- at its center.

The collar 34 is confined between the ring 28 above mentioned and a ring 38 also fixed to the shaft l4, the rings 28 and 38 also cooperating with the encircling, non-rotating, cylindrical structure 29 to form a second annular pressure transmitting space 39 to which the diaphragm 36 is exposed. Fluid pressure may be admitted to the space 39 through a pipe 40.

The collars 25 and 34 and associated rings 21, 28, and 38 are preferably securely fixed together by appropriate means, such as through bolts 4|,

so that they rotate as a unit with the-shaft l4.

2 The non-rotating cylindrical structure 2! is preferably separately mounted concentrically of the shaft for support either by the shaft or by an independent anchorage, such as conventionally indicated at ll, ample running clearances being provided between the rings 21,28 and I8 and the non-rotating structure, as'indicated in the drawings, so as to avoid wearing.contact between the rotating and non-rotating parts.

The arrangement is such that fluid pressure, supplied from pipe ll to the ture 2!. the channels 28 and I! and pipe it into the container II to expand the latter and thereby close the clutch. The clutch is then maintained closed by the automatic closing of the valve 20 which serves to maintain the pressure in the channel II and container II. To release the clutch, pressure is transmitted to the chamber 3| through chamber ii in the stationary structhe pipe 40, thereby to further depress the diaphragm l8 and thus open the valve 2| so as to open the channel I! to the exhaust port 3!.

Provision is made for momentarily sealing the chambers 30 and 39 during those brief periods of time when the clutch is being closed and when it is being opened. For that purpose a pair of annular sealing rings 42 and 43 is mounted in each of the chambers 30 and II respectively. Each of these rings is of leather, or other good and preferably flexible sealing material, rings 42 being attached along their outer margins to opposite sides of a rib 44 which projects radially inwardly from the structure 2! opposite the ring 28, and rings 43 being similarly attached to the inner surfaces of end rings 48 removably flxed by bolts 46 or otherwise to ends of the structure 29 opposite the rings 21 and 38 respectively. Rings'fl extend inwardly into close proximity and in overlapping relation with the ring 28 so as to be pressed into sealing contact with the latter when one or the other of the chambers 30 or 39 is exposed to pressure, and rings 43 are similarly disposed with respect to the end rings 21 and 38 for the same purpose.

It will thus be noted that the stationary struc-- ture 29, including the inwardly projecting rings 45 and rib 4|, cooperates with the rotating structure, including the rings 21, 28, and 38 and intermediate collars 25 and 34, to form a fluid transmitting joint capable of accommodating rotation of the shaft l4 and which is effectively sealed by the flexible rings 42 and 43 during those brief time intervals when the Joint is exposed to. fluid pressure, namely-during the closing and opening of the clutch. It will also be noted that since the pressure which maintains the clutch closed is sustained by the valves 20 and ii which rotate with the shaft, it is unnecessary to maintain fluid pressure in the joint while the clutch is closed, so that the sealing rings 42 and 43 are not exposed to pressure and consequent wearing contact with the rings 21, 28, and 38 during those extended periods of time during which the clutch is closed and the shaft ll operating.

The clutch shown in Fig. 2 is similar tothat of Fig. 1, except that the expansible fluid container i5 is surface bonded to a ring it removably flxed to an outer drum ill carried by the shaft I4 and expandable into gripping contact with an inner drum l2 carried on a separate shaft II. In this arrangement centrifugal force is utilized to contract the container l5 away from the drum I! when the pressure therein is released. In this instance, the pressure in the conan appropriate source through the means the check valve 2| and throulh tainerll'iscontrolledthrmlghaehannelll'in theshaft ll'bymeanswhichwillnowbedescribed.

Thecontrolsystemshowninl'ig.2comprises afluidtrasystemsimilartothathereinabovedescribed but including amechanicslly tripped instead of s fluid tripped pressure release valve; It comprises an inwardly opening bell checkvalve fl'arrangedwithinacollarll'flxed to rotate with the shaft is, and controlling communication between the channel II and a fluid transmitting chamber ll formed between the collar 2| and a non-rotating surrounding cylinder ll and between the rotatingrings 21' and II and the stationary rings I. The chamber II is supplied with fluid pressure through a pipe ti and intermittently sealed y the flexible rings 43 carried by the rings ll and pressed into sealing engagement with the rings 21' and 28' only when the chamber ll is exposed to pressure; all constructed and arranged to operate in the manner above described.

In this instance, however, the collar 2| also carries a pressure release valve 2| arranged within a chamber 33' which communicates with the channel il. Thevalve 2! shown is in the form of an inwardly opening poppet valve having a stem 26' longitudinally flnned and l ded in an exhaust channel ii. A spring 48 interposed between the ring 20' and a head II on the valve stem yieldably retains the valve ii in the closed position shown. The valve 2| may be forced into open position by appropriate means such as a non-rotating control collar ll slidably mounted on the shaft II in a manner to contact the head 49 and force the valve from its seat. The collar It may be manually actuated and controlled by appropriate means, such as a conventional yoke and trimnion arrangement, the trunnions being indicated at II.

The arrangement is such that fluid pressure admitted to the chamber ll through the pipe 3|, first acts on the sealing rings 43' to seal the chamber, and then passes the valve II to and through the channel II to close the clutch, the valve 20' thereafter closing to sustain the clutch closing pressure. As soon as the pressure in the pipe Si is released, the pressure on the sealing rings 43 is relieved so as to avoid wearing pressure contact between them and the rings 11' and 28. Finally when it is desired to reopen the clutch, the collar II is shifted against the head 49 so as to depress the valve 2i into open position, whereupon the pressure in the container l5 escapes through the channel II and port 35'. and the container assisted by the centrifugal forces acting thereon contracts away from the inner drum I! to thereby completely open the clutch.

Various changes may be made in either embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacriflcing the advantages of the invention as deflned in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In acontrol system for a rotary fluid pressure container, the combination of means for transmitting fluid pressure to and from said container during rotation thereof. said means including two chamber-forming members one rotatable with said container and with respect to the other of said members, means rotatable with said container for sustaining the fluid pressure therein, said last named means including a valve operable to release the fluid pressure in said container, and means operable independently of the fluid pressure in said container for operating said valve during rotation of said container.

2. In a control system for a rotary fluid pressure container, the combination of means for transmitting fluid Pressure to said container during rotation thereof, valve means rotatable with said container and operable to admit and sustain fluid pressure therein, additional valve means rotatable with said container and operable to release the fluid pressure therein, and means for operating said valve independently of the fluid pressure in said container during rotation thereof;

3. In a control system for a rotary fluid container, the combination of means rotatable with said container and normally eflfective to sustain fluid pressure in the latter, means for transmitting fluid pressure to and through said first named means to said container during rotation of the latter, and means rotatable with said container and operable to release the fluid pressure therein, and means non-rotatable with said container for operating said last named means during rotation of said container.

4. In a control system for a rotary fluid pressure container, the combination or means rotatable with said container and normally effective to sustain fluid pressure therein, means operable during rotation of said container for transmitting fluid pressure to and through said first named means to said container, and fluid actuated means operable independently of the fluid pressure in said container to release said fluid pressure.

5. In a control system for a rotary fluid pressure container, the combination of means including a fluid actuated valve rotatable with said container for transmitting and sustaining fluid pressure to and in the latter, and a separate fluid actuated valve operable independently of fluid pressure in said container and rotatable with said container for releasing the fluid pressure therein.

6. In a control system for a rotary fluid pressure container, the combination of means including a fluid actuated valve rotatable with said container for transmitting and sustaining fluid pressure to and in the latter, a valve rotatable with said container operable to release fluid pressure from the latter, and means non-rotatable with said container for operating said last named valve during rotation of said container.

CARL R. REUTER. 

